Online Tools for the Science Teacher
Information and Communications Technology (ICT) is all the rage in more developed countries, particularly because it opens a whole new world of learning opportunities for high school students, especially when it comes to science.
First, ICT enhances teaching and learning in such a way that students can easily see and comprehend scientific processes and systems.
Second, being able to record and present the results’ analysis to the class is something that can also be easily had utilizing ICT.
Third, being able to communicate with others, conduct research in half the time, and have any science-related information at one’s fingertips are simply marvels of ICT that our local schools should take advantage of.
Here are some useful tools that can help both teacher and student on the path of innovative learning and fun teaching.
Science Explorer - discusses electricity, light and sound, human beings, forces and motion, with interactive experiments and short sample quizzes per topic
The Ultimate Human Body - interactive CD-ROM for research
The Virtual Teachers Centre - has Science curriculum links
BBC Education- for lesson material and interactive web pages
The Four Seasons Project - has video footages on weather and energy use
Association of Science Education – an organization based in the UK with information on all aspects of science teaching
Science ICT Training for Teachers
Making Movies In Science - a YouTube video of a five-minute introduction to producing a movie or Photobook for Science presentations and reports
Web experiments - real science experiments to be conducted from the school computer
Science Education and the Role of ICT - guide on educational research and its relation to technology
Science PowerPoint files - the most common form of ICT when it comes to presentation or lessons is probably the PowerPoint. Here are some free downloadable files that can help increase the pace of the lesson and the classroom interaction
e-subjects - including science, here are some UK courses in a downloadable format
Using Video Conferencing in Science
Develop your Science teaching practice using ICT - has a collection of lesson plans, multimedia resources and ICT support materials
Internet for Science - has free online tutorials on how to improve Internet information literacy
Developing Virtual Field Trips for Science - gives a different definition of field trip, and helps discover the good that can come out of virtual visits to the inside of a volcano, under the ocean or between a fault line
Science and ICT - to see why ICT use is promoted for teaching and learning Science
Take the time to check out these links. Even if it might still be a long way ahead before one can actually present a movie in class using video-sharing websites, the most important thing is that one is aware of the possibilities.
Sources:
“Science.” Retrieved November 5, 2008 from
http://ecs.lewisham.gov.uk/talent/pricor/science.html#How
“Science & ICT.” Retrieved November 5, 2008 from
http://www.shambles.net/pages/learning/ScienceP/scict/
(Published 17 November 2008, Smart Communications, Inc.)
